Autoamtic transfer mechanism for forging machines and the like



June 25, 1957 R. L. LEINWEBER 2,796,615

AUTQMATIC TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR FORGING MACHINES THE LIKE Filed June 6, 1955 6 Sh ets-Sheet-al INVENTOR. ROEEHT L. LEM/WEBER June 25, 1957 R. 1.. LEINWEBER I 2,796,616

AUTOMATIC TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR FORGING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed June 6 1955 6 Shets-Sheet 2 4, F "46 48 /e I INVENTOR. ROEEHT L.LEINWEBB.

ArraeA/s-rs June 25, 1957 R. L. LEINWEBER AUTOMATIC TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR FORGING MACHINES AND THE LI KE Filed June 6, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 &1 B

. INVENTOR. RfiBERT L. LEI/V wsaza.

147' faeMsYS June 25, 1957 R. L. LEINWEBER AUTOMATIC TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR FORGING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 6, 1955 IHI III. I] l I lll-llll-lllllullllllll'll'l Illlllll INVENTOR. P049557 L. Lf/A/Wffiffi.

ATTOPA/F V9 June 25, 1957 R. L. LEINWEBER 2,

AUTOMATIC TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR FORGING MACHINES AND m5 Lima;

Filed June 6, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 t INVENTOR. jay. 6 R0568? L. 1. fM/h/ffiffi June 25, 1957 R. LEINWEBER 2,796,615

AUTOMATIC TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR FORGING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed June 6, 1955 e sheets-sheet a INVENTOR. PUBfRT L. Lf/A/WLBER.

AUTOMATIC TRANSFER l /iEtTEiANifih-i FORGING MACIMES AND THE LEKE Robert L. Leinweber, Wicklitfe, Ohio, assignor to The Ajax Manufacturing Company, Euclid, iihio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 6, 1955, Serial No. 513,546

28 Claims. (Cl. 12)

This invention relates as indicated to automatic transfer mechanism, and more particularly to transfer mechanism adapted to shift blanks of circular cross-section from one position to another in a forging machine or other machine for the performance of one or more operations thereon.

In an upset-ting forging machine or header, such as is commonly employed for the manufacture of bolts for example, the work may be shifted from one set of die cavities to another by manual means for performance of a series of operations thereon in a particular desired sequence. It is, however, obviously very much more efficient in the case of an automatic machine of this type to provide stock transfer means which will likewise be fully automatic in operation. One such stock transfer mechanism is shown and described in Criley Patent 1,998,272 and such mechanism has been extensively utilized in conjunction with Ajax bolt heading and forging machines over a period of many years. The present invention represents a further improvement in mechanisms of this nature. The Criley transfer mechanism includes a number of pivots and wear points which may eventually become sloppy in use and require maintenance or replacement if troublefree operation is to be achieved. A somewhat more serious problem is raised by the fact that such mechanism requires a rather large amount of room in the die space and accordingly either the die or die support must be partially cut away to accommodate such transfer mechanism. As forging machines of this type operate with great rapidity and exert extremely high forging pressures, it is desirable that the dies and die supports be as massive and rigid as possible In various heading operations, it is often desirable to rotate or index the blank about its axis prior to performance of the next forging operation, and this may be achieved to a somewhat limited degree by the mechanism illustrated and described in Criley Patent 2,074,104. It would be very helpful on many occasions, however, to be able to rotate the blank about its axis to any desired degree.

lt is accordingly a principal object of my invention to provide automatic stock transfer means of a type suitable for employment with a bolt heading and forging machine, for example.

Another object is to provide such transfer means which is adapted to rotate the stock about its axis to a desired degree while transferring such stock to a subsequent work station.

Still another object is to provide such work transfer means which is adapted to be installed in existing forging machines without any substantial modification of the latter.

A further object is to provide such work transfer means which will occupy a minimum amount of die space and will not necessitate cutting away or otherwise reducing the strength of such dies and their supports.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related tically reciprocable slide member 29.

V Z,796,6 116 Patented June 25, 1957 ice ends, said invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a commercially available Ajax bolt header and forging machine well known in the art, showing my new transfer mechanism mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view on an enlarged scale of the stock transfer mechanism of my invention installed at the throat of the machine;

Fig. 2a is a semi-diagrammatic illustration of the pneumatic control means for such transfer mechanism;

Fig.3 is an end elevational view of such transfer mechanism;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the vertically reciprocable elements of such transfer mechanism taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevational view generally corresponding to Fig. 3 but on a somewhat enlarged scale showing the hopper and stock supply means adapted to feed blanks to the work transfer means;

Fig. dis a fragmentary detail view taken on the line 66 onFig. 2; and

vFigs. 7-12 inclusive are semi-diagrammatic end elevational views of my new transfer mechanism showing sequential steps in the operation of the same.

Referring now more particularly to said annexed drawing and especially Fig. 1 thereof, the embodiment of my invention illustrated herein is adapted to be installed on a bolt heading and forging machine of well known type which may comprise a main frame 1 carrying a fixed die 2 opposed to a cooperating die 3 mounted upon a reciprocable die slide 4. When die 3 has been reoiprocated toward die 2 to grip the blank B therebetween, a header die (not shown) carried by header slide 5 may be reciprocated axially of such blank to upset the protruding end thereof to form a hexagonal bolt head or other desired shape. The machine is powered by an electric motor 6 operative to drive a large flywheel 7 provided with an air clutch and brake. m

Now referring additionally to Figs. 2-6 inclusive, my

new transfer mechanism may comprise a vertically exa such cylinders through inlets such as 13 tending resiliently to urge such follower plate to the left as viewed in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 7-l2 inclusive. The outer face of plate 8 is relieved to provide four spaced, fiat, vertical wear surfaces adapted to engage the stock or blank B and normally projected beyond the face of fixed die 2. Such plate is cut away not to obstruct the face of die 2 but an end portion 14 of the plate projects above the level of such die to assist in the initial work feeding operation as explained below.

Rigidly mounted on the frame of the machine on the same side of the throat as movable die 3 is a stand 15 supporting vertically disposed pneumatic cylinder 16 and piston 17 with depending rod 18 pivotally and vertically adjustably connected to an upward extension 19 of ver- Such slide is fitted within a vertical slideway 21 and retained therein by means of keeper plates 22, 23, 24 and 25. Stop plates 26, 27, 28 and 29 limit the vertical stroke of slide or carriage 20. Slide member or carriage 29 is drilled to -provide two vertical alignments of three cylinders 30 each normal to the face of such member in which pistons 31 are fitted having rectangular protruding outer end portions or blocks 32, such pistons and their rectangular ends being held against rotation about their axes by means of transverse retaining pins such as 33. Such pins also retain pistons 31 in place but permit a very limited amount of in-and-out movement. Compression springs such as 34 (Fig. 3) are interposed between piston ends 32 and slide 20 tending to urge such piston ends outwardly but permitting limited movement of the same to accommodate slight deformation of the stock when the latter is gripped in the. manner explained below. Each such pistotn end or block 32 carries four rollers 35 in axially aligned horizontal pairs with the'outer peripheries of such rollers protruding slightly beyond the end faces of blocks 32 and such end faces, moreover,-being desirably somewhat relieved intermediate such horizontally disposed pairs to permit such rollerperipheries to engage a variety of sizes of work blanks of circular cross-section rolling contact. It may now be appreciated by reference to the drawing that aligned sets of such rollers 35 are adapted to engage an elongated blankB of circular cross-section with the blank held in position thereagainst by action follower plate 8.

' An outboard stock support 36 maybe mounted on die slide 4 for reciprocation back and'forth with movable die 3. Such outboard stock support is provided with a depending end portion 37 having ashelf- 38 and recesses 39 and'40 aligned with the corresponding die cavities. Such outboard support is optional but is 'of assistance when handling unusually long work-pieces. For that matter, but a single vertical series of stock-engaging rollers 35 (that series nearest the dies) will be 'utilized when handling the shortest lengths of stock for which the mechanism is designed.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the rollers 35 are backed up by the slide keeper plates 22, 23, 24 and 25 and are adapted to roll up and down therealong when slide 20 is vertically reciprocated by means of piston-cylinder asdelivered by such valve to line 46 or line 47 leading through flow control valves 48 and 49 to the respective ends of cylinder 16, thereby to reciprocate piston 17 and slide 20 up and down in timed relation to reciprocation of the die slide. Such transfer slide 20 is reciprocated downwardly when die slide 4 has retracted die to substantially fully opened position and is reciprocated upwardly when such die slide'has returned die 3 nearly to closed position. I

A temporary work support bar 50 is secured within a socket 51 by means of a set screw 52, the outer end portion of such bar projecting through an aperture in follower plate 8 and opposing an axially aligned stud 53 mounted in the face of slide 20 (see Figs. 2, 4 and 6). It will thus be seen that when a blank B is initially delivered to the transfer mechanism, it will be supported as shown in Fig. 2 (and uppermost position in Fig. 4)

resting in part on such stud 53.

As best shown in Fig. 5 and also diagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 7-1O inclusive, I prefer to employ a special stock feeding mechanism adapted to deliver the blanks to the above-described transfer mechanism. Such device. comprises a trough 54 having an inclined bottom 55 sloping toward the throat of the machine. Such trough is supported by a stand 56 and bolts 57 resting on the follower plate cylinders 11 and 12. By adjusting such bolts, the tilt of the trough may be slightly modified and the exact location of the lower discharge end of such'trough likewise slightly shifted. Such discharge end comprises a narrow vertical chute 58 dimensioned to receive but a single vertical stack of blanks B. The width of the trough and chute lengthwise of the blanks is selected to fit the latter sutficiently closely to ensure their proper positioning when fed to the transfer mechanism by gravity.

Movable die 3 has mounted thereon an upper and lateral extension 59 providing a work supporting shelf 60 adapted to receive a blank descending from chute 58.

Operation Referring more especially to diagrammatic Figs. 7-12 inclusive, the operation of my new transfer mechanism through a complete cycle may be understood as follows.

As shown in Fig. 7, the movable die 3 has been brought into engagement with fixed die 2, pushing back follower plate 8 to the right. A blank is deposited on shelf 60 from chute 58 of hopper 54, being positioned thereon by engagement with the upper portion of the follower plate face. If an upsetting operation is to be performed thereon, the blank will be thus deposited with one end portion 61 projecting a predetermined distance beyond the inner side face of the die as shown in Fig. 2, for example. If.

the blank is sufiiciently long, it will also be supported upon stud 53 on slide 20 (now in elevated position), and if very long, additionally supported by upper shelf 38 of outboard stock support 36 (see Fig. 2).

As shown in Fig. 8, movable die 3 is now retracted by reciprocation of the die slide and the blank resting on shelf 60 is engaged by the uppermost set of rollers on.

vertical slide 20, follower plate 8 moving to the left with reciprocation of die 3 until the blank is thus engaged by the rollers, whereupon further shifting of follower plate 8 is stopped and such plate resiliently supports such blank in position between the embracing pairs of rollers. The next succeeding blank in chute 58 is prevented from dropping down by engagement with the top surface of follower plate 8 which serves as a sliding gate.

Piston-cylinder assembly 17, 16 (Figures. 2a, 3 and 4) is actuated by retraction of die 3, as above explained, to reciprocate slide 20 downwardly and the blank B engaged between the pairs of rollers 35 is rolled downwardly along the face of follower plate 8 until on alignment with the upper set of die cavities 62 and 63. The die slide is again reciprocated to close the die,, cavity 62 engaging the blank and carrying it away from slide 20 and the rollers 35, the blank being retained in such die cavity through resilient pressure of follower plate 8.

When the die has reached fully closed position as shown in Fig. 10, the blank B is firmly gripped by the two dies in cavities 62 and 63, and the header slide 5 may then be reciprocated to engage protruding end portion 61 to upset the latter 'to form a bolt head 64, for example (Figs. 2 and 4). A following blank is, of course, deposited on shelf 60 when the follower plate is pushed back out of the way (Fig. 10) and transfer slide 20 is returned upwardly to starting position. Of course, when die 3 is reciprocated to closed position, it not only carries the blank away from the rollers 35 but also clears such blank of temporary supporting stud 53.

The above-described cycle of operation may now again be repeated, and it will be appreciated that the blank en from cavity 63 by means of follower plate 8 holding such blank in cavity 62 until the blank engages the center set of rollers on slide 20 (Fig. 8). When slide 20 is next reciprocated downwardly, it will, of course, roll such blank downwardly into position to be engaged by die cavities 65 and 66 (Fig. 9) when the dies are again closed (Fig. 10). A completed blank after forging in such lowermost position to product a modified head 67, for example (Fig. 4) will be engaged by the lowermost set of rollers 35 (Fig. 8) and will be rolled downwardly beyond the lower edge of follower plate 8 (Fig. 9) and '3 dropped into the usual forging discharge pit beneath the machine.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a work-piece feeding and transfer means operative automatically to shift a blank from station to station while maintaining close control of the same in automatic timed relation to operation of the forging machine. In thus transferring the blank, the latter is rolled along a surface which also serves as a follower plate, such rolling action serving to rotate the blank about its axis to any desired degree determined by the spacing of the die cavities. Such action also avoids the necessity of employing any pincer means or the like and considerably simplifies the mechanical operation. In fact, it will be noted that the only powered movement imparted to the mechanism is the vertical reciprocation of slide 20, the controlled positioning of'the blanks being otherwise obtained by the resiliently backed follower plate 8 in conjunction with the normal operation of the work-gripping dies. The transfer mechanism is adapted to be installed in existing forging and other machines and obviously need not necessarily be arranged for transfer in a vertical plane.

The work gripping dies may themselves perform forging operations on the work progressively in one set of cavities after the other. The resiliently mounted backup plate supports the work during in and out movement and also serves as a guideway along which the work is shifted from station to station. Work of non-circular cross-section may be slid along such back-up plate thus' to shift the same but in its preferred form my new mechanism is, of course, especially adapted to transfer of rolling blanks. There is an overlap with the reciprocable grip die and carriage engaging one side of a blank and the stationary grip die and back-up plate engaging the diametrically opposite side, such back-up plate bearing against the blank during each movement of the latter, horizontal and vertical. While it is preferred to maintain a regulated resilient pressure on the back-up plate as by means of the piston-cylinder assemblies described, nevertheless simple compression springs may be employed in their stead if desired.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In an upsetting forging machine having a stationary grip die, a horizontally reciprocable grip die adapted to be reciprocated into and out of cooperative work gripping relationship to said stationary die, and a third die horizontally reciprocable in a direction normal to such reciprocation of said reciprocable grip die to engage and upset an end portion of a work-piece thus gripped by said grip dies; work feed and transfer means comprising a work hopper disposed above said grip dies and adapted to deliver individual cylindrical blanks downwardly by gravity directly above the parting line of said grip dies and parallel thereto, said hopper being dimensioned thus to deliver such blanks in proper longitudinal position for subsequent gripping by said subjacent grip dies with a desired end portion of the blank protruding therebeyond for performance of such upsetting operation thereon; a support on said reciprocable grip die adapted to receive such blank from such hopper when said die is in closed position, a plurality of vertically spaced pairs of opposed die cavities in the respective work-engaging faces of said grip dies, such pairs of cavities being vertically spaced distances equal to the vertical distance separating said support and the uppermost of such cavities, a vertically disposed back-up plate having a work-engaging face parallel to the work-engaging faces of said grip dies, means mounting said back-up plate for horizontal reciprocation in a direction parallel to that of said reciprogable grip die to engage a substantial portion of each blank extending beyond said grip dies on the side away from said third die, said plate being disposed to engage the same sides of such blanks engaged by said stationary grip die, resilient means urging said plate into engagement with such blanks; a fixed vertical slideway opposite to the work-engaging face of said plate, a slide mounted in said slideway for vertical reciprocation therein, power means for reciprocating said slide in timed relation to opening and closing movement of said reciprocable grip die, vertically spaced pairs of rollers mounted on said slide for rotation about horizontal axes, each said pair of rollers comprising an upper and a lower roller dimensioned and spaced together to engage in rolling contact a blank held thereagainst by said back-up plate, and each said pair of rollers being vertically spaced from the next pair a distance equal to that between adjacent upper and lower die cavities in said grip dies, there being a number of said pairs of rollers equal to the number of such vertically spaced pairs of die cavities and said blank support, means regulating the reciprocation of said slide from a position with the uppermost pair of said rollers opposite said support to a position opposite the uppermost pair of die cavities therebelow and a corresponding return movement, whereby a said pair of rollers is shifted from a position opposite each pair of die cavities to a position opposite the next pair of such cavities therebelow except that the lowermost pair of said rollers is shifted from a position opposite the lowermost pair of die cavities to a work discharging position therebelow; means operative to retract said reciprocable grip die away from said stationary grip die and beyond said slide, whereby said resiliently supported back-up plate is permitted to follow such movement, first clearing such blanks from such die cavities in said stationary grip die and then pressing such blanks against said opposed pairs of rollers on said slide, means operative to actuate said power means to reciprocate said slide downwardly while said reciprocable grip die and back-up plate are in the indicated positions to roll such blanks downwardly along said back-up plate into positions opposite the next lower pairs of die cavities, means operative thereupon to advance said reciprocable grip die to engage such blanks in their new positions, carry them out of engagement with said respective pairs of rollers, and carry them into gripping engagement with said stationary grip die, said back-up plate being forced resiliently back during such latter operation; and means operative again to elevate said slide after such blanks have been thus carried out of engagement with said rollers.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprises pneumatic piston-cylinder means.

3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein an outrigger work support is mounted for reciprocation with said reciprocable grip die and is provided with depending blankengaging means aligned with the die cavities of said reciprocable grip die but spaced therefrom on the other side of said slide.

4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said pairs of rollers are mounted on said slide for slight yielding actic-n to accommodate blanks which may not be perfectly straight.

5. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein a portion of said back-up plate extends over said stationary work gripping die to engage the portion of a blank resting on said support on said reciprocable grip die.

6. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein a stationary Work support is provided projecting through said backup plate in position to support an elongated blank deposited on said support on said reciprocable grip die, and another work support on said slide closely opposed to said stationary support when said slide is in raised position.

7. Work transfer means for transferring work-pieces of circular cross-section from one work station to another, comprising a guideway along which such work- 7 pieces are adapted; to be rolled, antifriction work-piece engaging means operative relatively rotatably to engage suchwork-pieces to roll'them alongsaid guideway-from station'to station, said guideway having a work-engaging surface sutficientlyfrictio'nal to ensure uniform rolling actionof such work-pieces, positive work gripping means at such stations, the path of such; rolling movement between station's being of predetermined length to afford a PIedetermined rotative indeXingQofthe Work-piece and precise control of travel'between successive stations, and meansjoperativetorshift said guideway laterally at the conclusion of each such rolling transfer operation into position for engagement of the work-pieces :bysaid grippingmeansp V H 8. The me'chanismof claim 7, wherein a work gripping member is providedat such a statiommounted for movement; in a direction transversely'of-said guideway to engage a work-piece thereon and thereby shift said workpiece and: guideway together laterally into positive Workgripping positioni j '9: Themechanism of claim 7,-wherein a work gripping member is provided at such a station mounted for movement in a direction transversely of said guideway to engagea-worlepiece thereon and thereby shift said Workpieceand guideway together laterally into positive Workgripping position, said guideway being resiliently mounted 40 resist such lateral shifting movement and thereby serving to hold such work-pieces firmly against saidvwork gripping member. a

10. The mechanism of claim 7, wherein said workpiece engaging means is shaped to engage both sides of a work-piece along the path of rolling movement of the latter precisely to control the travel of such work-piece between stations.

11; The mechanism of claim 7, including means operative'to return said work-piece engaging means to the preceding station upon such lateral shifting of said guideway.

12. Work transfer means for transferring work-pieces of'circular cross-section from one work station to another, comprising a resiliently mounted back-up member along which such work-pieces are adapted to be rolled, reciprocable anti-friction work-piece engaging means operative to engage such work-pieces to roll them along said back-up member from station to station, said backup member having a work-engaging surface sufficiently frictional to ensure non-slipping rolling action of such work-pieces therealong, the path of such rolling movement between stations being of predetermined length to'atford a predetermined rotative indexing of the work-piece and precise control of travel between successive stations, and work gripping means at such stations including a stationary work gripping member spaced rearwardly of the work-engaging face of said resiliently mounted back-up member, and a cooperating movable work gripping member mounted for reciprocation toward and away from said stationary gripping member transversely of the path of movement of said reciprocable work-piece'engaging means to engage such work-pieces and carry them out of engagement with said reciprocable work-piece engaging means and into engagement with said stationary gripping member, said back-up member resiliently yielding to accommodate such transverse movement. 7 a t 13. The mechanism of claim 12, wherein said reciprocable work-piece engaging means includes anti-friction means adapted to engage both sides of a circular work-piece along the path of rolling movement of the latter.

14. The mechanism of claim 12, including rollers on said reciprocable work-piece engaging means adapted to engage both sides of a circular work-piece along the path of rolling movement of the latter, and a guideway engaging said rollers to support said reciprocable work-piece 8 engaging meafns 'and' such work-pieces against the re silient pressure of said back-up member. E -lj. "Work ;;transfermeans for transferring individual worlc-piec'es to a work station, comprising africtibnal guideway along whichsuch work-pieces are adapted to reciprocatedtwith such'lwork-piece following the same,

anti-friction wor'k piece shifting means operative to tengage a work-piece on said' guideway and roll it therealong a predetermined distance until opposite said workpiece receiving member, thus affording a predetermined rotative indexing of such work-piece and precisecon'trol of travel between successive stations, and a work-piece engaging member mounted for reciprocation parallel to the direction ofreciprocation of said guideway and toward and away from said work-piece receiving member operative to engage such workpiece thus shifted and carry it into .said receiving member with coincident reciprocation of said guideway to accommodate such movement.

16. The mechanism of claim 15, wherein said workpiece shifting means is also operative to engage and shift suchwork-piece further along said guideway away from such station when said guideway and work-piece engaging member have again been reciprocated to carry such work-piece away from said work-piece receiving member.

-17 The mechanism of claim 15, wherein said guideway is resiliently mounted to afford such reciprocation thereof through "engagement of a Work-piece thereon by said work-piece engaging member.

18. Work transfer means for transferring individual work-pieces to and from a work station, comprising a frictional guideway along which such work-pieces are adapted to be moved, resilient means mounting said guideway for bodily reciprocation in a direction normal to the path of movement of such work-piece therealong, astationary work-piece receiving member at such station adjacent said guideway and positioned to receive a portion of a work-piece protruding beyond said guideway when said guideway is thus reciprocated with such work piece following the same, anti-friction work-piece shifting means mounted for reciprocation parallel to said guideway and operative to engage a work-piece on said guideway and roll ittherealong a predetermined distance until opposite said work-piece receiving member, thus affording a predetermined rotative indexing of such work-piece and precise control of travel between successive stations, and a work-piece engaging member mounted for reciprocation parallel to the direction 'of reciprocation of said guideway and toward-and away from said work-piece receiving member operative to engage such work-piece thus shifted 'and carry it into said receiving member with coincident reciprocation of said guideway to accommodate such movement, said work-piece engaging member overlapping said resiliently mounted guideway to hold such work-piece therebetween after such work-piece has been carried away from said shifting means and before it is received in said receiving member as well as during corresponding return movement. a

19. The mechanism of claim 18, wherein said workpiece shifting means is also operative to engage and shift such work-piece further along said guideway away from such station when said guideway and work-piece engaging member have again been reciprocated to carry such work-piece away from said work-piece receiving member.

20. In a machine having work gripping members relatively reciprocable in a horizontal direction to grip a work-piece therebetween, a reciprocable said member having a work-engaging recess therein opposed to the other said member; a work support on said reciprocable member spaced above such recess having an upstanding back portion but open toward the face of said other member opposed to the recessed face of said reciprocable member, supply means adapted to deposit a work-piece on said support, vertically extending back-up means operative to engage such work-piece on said support and horizontally reciprocable in the same direction as said reciprocable work gripping member, vertically reciprocable work transfer means positioned to engage such work-piece on said support as said reciprocable work gripping member is withdrawn from said cooperating gripping member, means operative to reciprocate said back-up member to follow such withdrawal of said reciprocable gripping member until such work-piece is engaged by said vertically reciprocable transfer means, whereupon said back-up means is effective to hold such work-piece in engagement with said transfer means, and means operative to reciprocate said transfer means a predetermined distance to shift such work-piece downwardly along said back-up means into position directly opposite such recess, so that upon return reciprocation of said reciprocable gripping member such work-piece will be engaged in such recess and carried away from said transfer means into gripped position with said other gripping member, said back-up means reciprocating therewith to hold such work-piece in such recess during such horizontal reciprocation.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, including anti-friction means on said transfer means adapted to engage a workpiece of circular cross-section to roll the latter along said back-up means during such transfer operation.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, including a pair of rollers on vertically spaced horizontal axes on said transfer means adapted to engage a work-piece of circular crosssection to roll the latter along said back-up means during such transfer operation.

23. Work transfer means comprising two work gripping members relatively reciprocable toward and away from each other, frictional work back-up means operative to engage such work and follow opening reciprocation of one of said members to hold such work thereagainst, a transfer member opposed to said back-up means and mounted for reciprocation parallel to the Work-engaging face of said back-up means and normal to the reciprocation of said gripping members, whereby upon suificient opening movement of said gripping means said back-up means will be effective to hold such work against said transfer member, and means operative to reciprocate said transfer member uniformly positively to roll such work a predetermined distance along the surface of said back-up means, said transfer member being arranged to engage such work for rotation of the latter relative thereto when said transfer means is thus reciprocated.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said back-up means is opposed to both a portion of the work-engaging face of said reciprocable gripping member and a portion of the work-engaging face of said reciprocable transfer member in overlapping relationship.

25. Work transfer means for cylindrical blanks comprising opposed work gripping members relatively reciprocable toward and away from each other to grip and release such blanks, a follower operative to follow opening movement of one of said members to hold such blank thereagainst, a transfer member positioned to intercept and rotatably engage such blank as said latter gripping member withdraws, and means operative thereupon to reciprocate said transfer means positively uniformly to roll such blank along the surface of said follower a predetermined distance to afford predetermined rotative indexing of the blank and precise control of travel between successive stations.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said transfer means is provided with anti-friction means arranged to engage and positively to position the latter as well as to facilitate such rolling movement along said follower.

27. The method of transferring a work-piece from one work station to another which comprises gripping such work-piece at one station, releasing such grip and shifting such work-piece in the direction of release of gripping pressure, rolling such work-piece along a path normal to such direction both bodily to translate such workpiece and also simultaneously to index the same about its axis, and shifting such work-piece in a direction parallel to such first shifting movement into gripped position at a second station.

28. The method of transferring a cylindrical work-piece from one work station to another which comprises engaging such work-piece with a guideway at one station, shifting such guideway normal to its surface to shift such work-piece therewith, then positively rolling such workpiece along such guideway to a new position thereon, and shifting such guideway and work together parallel to such first shifting movement but in the opposite direction at a second station.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,598,655 Petitjean Sept. 7, 1926 1,828,324- Kruse Oct. 20, 1931 2,052,760 Friedman Sept. 1, 1936 

